Spongy VW Fox Brakes Signal Dangerous System Failure

Had a similar issue with my 2012 VW Polo TDI at 115000km. The spongy brake pedal combined with vibration typically points to two potential problems with hydraulic brakes. The brake fluid likely has air bubbles in the system, which affects the hydraulic pressure. When brake fluid gets old or contaminated, it can absorb moisture and create these air pockets. The other possibility is worn brake components, particularly the disc brakes and rotors. In my case, the diagnosis revealed both issues. The brake fluid needed a complete flush and replacement since it had degraded over time. The front disc brakes also showed significant wear patterns and required resurfacing. The brake shoes were still in acceptable condition. This is a serious safety concern that should be addressed promptly. The braking system is too critical to ignore these symptoms. A proper inspection and brake fluid flush should be the first step, followed by a thorough check of all brake components. Worth noting that VW models from that generation commonly develop these brake system issues around the 100000km mark. Getting it fixed by a qualified mechanic who knows these specific models is important for a proper repair.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the brake fluid issue. The symptoms sound exactly like what I encountered. Just got mine fixed 2 weeks ago after the brake calipers started making squeaky brakes noises too. The mechanic found air in the brake lines and had to do a complete system flush plus replace one of the disc brakes that had worn unevenly. Wondering how much you ended up paying for your repair work? Also curious if youve had any other brake-related issues pop up since getting it fixed?

Good to hear the brake system repairs resolved your issues. My total repair cost came to 240€ for the complete brake fluid flush, which also fixed an underlying undervoltage problem the mechanic discovered during diagnostics. The squeaky brakes and spongy pedal feel completely disappeared after the service. The disc brakes are now working perfectly with no vibration. Havent experienced any brake-related problems in the 8 months since the repair. Regular brake fluid changes are now part of my maintenance schedule to prevent air bubbles from building up in the hydraulic system again. The mechanic recommended checking the brake pads and calipers every 20000km as preventive maintenance, which seems to be working well so far.

Got the brake issue sorted 2 days ago after dealing with that spongy pedal for a few weeks. The repair came to 280€ including parts and labor. The mechanic found old brake fluid mixed with air bubbles plus a worn brake rotor that needed replacement. What really sold me on this shop was their thorough inspection. They showed me exactly where air had entered the brake lines and explained how worn brake calipers contributed to the uneven rotor wear. The squeaky brakes noise completely disappeared after they flushed the system and installed the new parts. Really relieved to have proper braking power again. The pedal feels firm and responsive now, no more concerning vibrations. Going to stick with this mechanic for future brake maintenance since they did such a solid job diagnosing and fixing everything.